Spraying apparatus



N O s N E B K M SPRA IING APPARATUS Filed June 29, 1945 ZNVENTOR.

\ M r/e /C Be/won ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 8, 1949 UNITED SPRAYING APPARATUS Merle K. Benson, BentonHarbor, Mich., assignor to T-M-K Corporation, Davenport, Iowa, acorporation of Iowa Application June 29, 1945, Serial No. 602,215

13 Claims. 1

The main objects of this invention are:

First. to provide a portable spraying or dusting apparatus or the likewhich is very convenient to use and can be easily operated to maintain asubstantially constant pressure.

Second, to provide an apparatus of the class described which includestwo tanks or receptacles, one to be supported at the front of the userand the other as a knapsack or at the back of the user, the one actingas a counterbalance for the load of the other as well as providingadditional capacity.

Third, to provide a portable apparatus which may be adjusted so that thepump may be operated by either hand of the user.

Fourth, to provide a structure embodying these advantages which iseconomical in its parts and very durable in use.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a spraying apparatus embodying myinvention, illustrating the arrangement of the tanks on an operator oruser, certain of the parts being shown conventionally.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a structure embodying myinvention partially in section on line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the pump side of the structure illustratedin Fig. 2.

Fig. i is a fragmentary view showing the inner l end of the pumpassembly in elevation.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, I provide a portablepressure tank I of triangular cross section and having supporting ears 2On two sides thereof, these supporting ears being adapted to be engagedby the hooks 3 of the shoulder strap or carrying strap 4, the hooksbeing selectively engageable with either pair of ears for purposes whichwill appear as the description proceeds. The third side 5 of the tank isprovided with an opening 6 having a flanged internally threaded ring Isecured therein. This ring is adapted to receive the pump assembly base8 which is externally threaded to thread into the supporting ringagainst the gasket 9.

The base has a plurality of annular flanges III on its inner side,uniformly spaced r grouped on the base and adapted to receive thecylinders ll. These cylinders are, in the embodiment illustrated, sheetmetal stampings externally threaded to engage the flanges I0 andprovided with discharge ports I2 at their inner ends. The valves I3 areurged to closing position by their spring supporting arms I4.

Each cylinder is provided with a plunger I of the flexible cupped type,the plungers being carried by the plunger rods I6 having plungersupporting disks I! and retaining disks I8, the parts being assembled byreducing the ends of the plungers and riveting the ends thereof as shownin Fig. 2. i

The plungers are supported by suitable bearings IS on the base, the basehaving air inlet openings permitting a free entrance of air to thecylinder at the outer sides of the plungers.

The coiled springs 2| preferably of the cylindrical type urge or biasthe plungers outwardly to urge their plunger rods l6 into engagementwith the swash or cam plate 22 which has a hub portion 23 rotatablymounted on the stub shaft 24 threaded into the base plate. The swashplate is provided with a handle 25 rotatably mounted on the spindle 26projecting from the swash plate.

With this arrangement, the pump is conveniently operated while the tankis supported at the front of the user and'it may be, as stated, adjustedto be operated by either hand, some operators preferring right-handoperation for which it is adjusted in Fig. 1 and others lefthandoperation. The tank is provided with a filling opening at the topprovided with a closure 21.

In the embodiment illustrated, i provide a second tank 28, this beingconventionally shown and being adapted to be supported at the back ofthe user by means of shoulder straps 29. This tank 28 is connected tothe pressure tank I by means of the flexible hose connection 30, thetank I of the embodiment illustrated having a branched discharge 3|provided with a valve 32. This connection 30 delivers to the top of thetank 28. The tank 28 has a discharge connection 33 opening thereto atthe bottom of the tank.

The spray hose 34 may be connected to this discharge connection 33 asshown in Fig. 1, or thehose 34 may be connected to the branch 35 of thedischarge connection 3! and the valve 32 may be adjusted to cut out thetank 28 and deliver liquid from the tank i to the hose Ti l. The sprayhose 34 has a spray head 36 having a valve 31 of a type known to theart-that is, of a type in which the valve is held open by the user butis closed automatically. I have not detailed this as it will be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

The apparatus is very convenient to use and a constant pressure may beeasily maintained. I have not illustrated the filling opening of thesecond tank as that will be readily understood. It will be understoodthat both tanks are airtight and adapted to contain spraying liquid andair under pressure although if desired the liquid may be placed in thesecond tank only, the pressure tank being used purely as a pressuretank.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus has a wide range ofadaptation. When both tanks are filled with liquid they aresubstantially balanced which is a desirable feature when the load is atits maximum.

I have illustrated and described my invention as embodied in a liquidspraying apparatus. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe theseother embodiments or adaptations as it is believed that this disclosurewill enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention asmay be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

.1. In a spraying apparatus, the combination of a portable pressure tankof triangular cross section having supporting ears at two sides thereofand an opening on its third side adapted to receive a pump assembly,said pressure tank being provided with a branched outlet havin adischarge valve controlling the branches thereof, an air pump assemblycomprising a base removably mounted in said opening, a plurality ofcylinders mounted on said base to project into said tank and havingdis-charge valves at their inner ends, flexible cupped plungers disposedto face inwardly within said cylinders and provided with plunger rodsprojecting through said base, springs arranged within said cylinders tobias said plungers outwardly, a swash plate rotatably mounted on theouter side of said base in coacting relation to all of said plunger rodsand provided with a handle, means for supporting said pressure tank atthe front, of the user selectively engageable with supporting earswhereby the pump may be presented for manipulation by either hand of theuser, a second portable tank adapted to be carried by the user as aknapsack, a flexible hose connection for the one branch of the dischargeof said pressure tank to said second tank, the second tank beingprovided with a discharge connection communicating therewith adjacentthe bottom thereof, and a spray hose provided with a discharge valve anda spray head, said spray hose being adapted to be selectively connectedto the discharge of the second tank or to the second branch of thedischarge of said pressure tank.

2. In a spraying apparatus, the combination of a portable pressure tankof triangular cross section having supporting ears at two sides thereof,and an opening on its third side adapted to receive a pump assembly,said pressure tank being provided with a branched outlet having adischarge valve controlling the branches thereof, an air pump assemblycomprising a base removably' mounted in said opening, a plurality ofcylinders mounted on said base to project into said tank and havingdischarge valves at their inner ends, flexible cupped plungers disposedto face inwardly Within said cylinders and provided with plunger rodsprojecting through said base, springs arranged within said cylinders tobias said plungers outwardly, a swash plate rotatably mounted on theouter side of said base in coacting relation to all of said plunger rodsand provided '4 with a handle, means for supporting said pressure tankat the front of the user selectively engageable with supporting earswhereby the pump may be presented for manipulation by either hand of theuser, and a spray hose connected to said tank and provided with adischarge valve and a spray head.

3. In a spraying apparatus, the combination of a portable pressure tankof triangular cross section having an opening in one side adapted toreceive a pump assembly, said pressure tank being provided with anoutlet, an air pump assembly comprising a base mounted in said opening,a plurality of cylinders mounted on said base and having dischargevalves delivering to said tank, plungers coacting with said cylindersand provided with plunger rods projecting through said base, springsacting to .bias said plungers outwardly, a swash plate rotatably mountedon the 'outer side of said base to coact with said plunger rods andprovided with a handle, means for supporting said pressure tank at thefront of the user to selectively present the pump for manipulation byeither hand of the user, a second portable tank adapted to be carried bthe user as a knapsack, a flexible delivery connection for said pressuretank to said second tank, the second tank being provided with a sprayinghose discharge connection, and a spraying hose selectively connectableto either tank.

4. In a spraying apparatus, the combination of a portable pressure tankadapted to be carried at the front of the user and having an opening inthe side thereof, said pressure tank being provided with an outlet, anair pump assembly comprising a base mounted in said opening, a pluralityof cylinders mounted on said base to project into said tank and havingdischarge valves at their inner ends, plungers coacting with saidcylinders and provided with plunger rods projecting through said base,springs acting to bias said plungers outwardly, a swash plate rotatablymounted on the under side of said base to coact with said plungers andprovided with a handle, a second portable tank adapted to be carried atthe back of the user, a flexible delivery connection for said pressuretank to said second tank, an outlet for said second tank, and a sprayinghose provided with a spray head, said spraying hose being adapted to beselectivel connected to either tank outlet.

5. In a spraying apparatus, the combination of a portable pressure tankadapted to be carried at the front of the user and having an opening inthe side thereof, an air pump assembly comprising a base mounted in saidopening, a plurality of cylinders mounted on said base to project intosaid tank and having discharge valves at their inner ends, plungerscoacting with said cylinders and provided with plunger rods projectingthrough said base, springs acting to 'bias said plungers outwardly, aswash plate rotatably mounted on the outer side of said base to coactwith said plungers and provided with a handle, a second portable tankadapted to be carried at the back of the user, a flexible deliveryconnection for said pressure tank to said second tank, a spraying hoseprovided with a spray head, and means for connecting said hose to eithertank.

6. In a spraying apparatus, the combination of a portable pressure tankadapted to be carried at the front of the user and having an opening inthe side thereof, an air pump assembly comprising a base mounted in saidopening, a plurality of cylinders mounted on said base to project intosaid tank and having discharge valves at their inner ends, plungerscoacting with said cylinders and provided with plunger rods projectingthrough said base, springs acting to bias said plungers outwardly, and aswash plate rotatably mounted on the outer side of said base to coactwith said plungers and provided with a handle.

7. The combination of a portable pressure tank having a pump assembly onthe side thereof, said pressure tank being provided with an outlet, saidassembly comprising a plurality of cylinders discharging to said tank,plungers coacting with said cylinders, springs acting to bias saidplungers outwardly, a rotatably mounted swash plate coacting with saidplungers, means for supporting said pressure tank at the front of theuser, a second portable tank adapted to be carried at the back of theuser, a flexible delivery connection for said pressure tank to saidsecond tank, and a discharge hose selectively connectable to eithertank.

8. The combination of a portable pressure tank having a pump assembly onthe side thereof, said pressure tank bein provided with an outlet, saidassembly comprising a plurality of cylinders discharging to said tank,plungers coacting with said cylinders, springs acting to bias saidplungers outwardly, a rotatably mounted swash plate coacting with saidplungers, a manually engageable handle rotatable in a plane adjacent theenclosure wall of the tank and operatively connected to said swash platefor turning the same, and means for supporting said pressure tank at thefront of the user.

9. The combination of a portable pressure tank adapted to be carried atthe front of the user, an air pump mounted on the side of said tank andcomprising a plurality of cylinders discharging to said tank, plungerscoacting with said cylinders, springs acting to bias said plungersoutwardly, a driven swash plate coacting with said plungers, a secondportable tank adapted to be carried at the back of the user, a flexibledelivery connection for said pressure tank to said second tank, and amanually controlled delivery means to said second tank.

10. The combination of a portable pressure tank adapted to be carried atthe front of the user, an air pump mounted on the side of said tank andcomprising a plurality of cylinders discharging to said tank, plungerscoacting with said cylinders, springs acting to bias said plungersoutwardly, a swash plate rotatably mounted to coact with said plungers,and a manually engageable handle rotatable in a plane adjacent theenclosure wall of the tank and operatively connected to said swash platefor turning the same.

11. The combination of a portable pressure tank of triangular crosssection havin a pump assembly on one side thereof, said pump assemblycomprising a plurality of cylinders delivering to said tank and providedwith plungers, a rotatably mounted swash plate coacting with saidplungers, and means for supporting said pressure tank at the front ofthe user to selectively present the pump for manipulation by either handof the user.

12. The combination of a pressure tank and a pump assembly on the sidethereof, said pump assembly comprising a plurality of cylindersdelivering to said tank and provided with plungers, a rotatably mountedswash plate for actuating said plungers, and a manually eng-ageablehandle rotatable in a plane adjacent the enclosure wall of the tank andoperatively connected to said swash plate for turning the same.,

13. In a pump, the combination with a base plate adapted for mounting onthe wall of a pressure tank, of a plurality of cylinders mounted on saidbase plate and having discharge valves at their inner ends, flexiblecupped plungers disposed to face inwardly within said cylinders andprovided with plunger rods projecting through said base plate, springsarranged within said cylinders to bias the plungers outwardly, and aswash plate rotatably mounted on the outer side of said base plate incoacting relation to all of said plunger rods and provided with meansfor actuating the same.

MERLE K. BENSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 38,715 Porter May 26, 1863663,732 Coughlin Dec. 11, 1900 927,872 Price July 13, 1909 1,071,376Campau Sept. 2, 1913 1,676,424 Carr July 10, 1928 1,820,266 BilderbeckAug. 25, 1931 2,329,912 Kent et al Sept. 21, 1943 2,374,595 Franz Apr.24, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 402,761 Germany Sept. 20,1924

